Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 526: Chapter 524: The Ball, Snape’s Gaze

The entrance hall was crowded with students, and the auditorium doors were already closed. Everyone was milling about outside, meeting up with their dance partners from other houses, waiting for eight o’clock.

When Kael and Conna walked by, they naturally attracted a lot of attention.

Luckily, at that moment, Fleur also arrived, wearing a silver-gray satin gown that was stunningly beautiful, immediately capturing everyone’s gaze upon her entrance.

Everyone subconsciously looked at her accompanying dance partner...

”Fred?” Conna couldn’t help but call out.

”No, it’s George...” Kael said.

”That’s right, it’s me.” George winked at them, ”But really, Kael, how did you manage to tell us apart?”

”Because Fred mentioned he already asked Angelina to be his dance partner.”

”Oh, how did I forget that.” George patted his forehead.

The oak front doors opened, and everyone turned their heads to see the students of Durmstrang and Karkaroff entering together, with Krum walking at the front beside a pretty girl in a blue robe.

”Wait a minute...” George rubbed his eyes, ”Am I seeing things? That girl looks a lot like Hermione.”

”You’re not seeing things.” Kael said, ”That’s Hermione.”

”Merlin...” George smacked his lips, ”Hermione can be this good-looking? This dance is truly magical...”

George was right; after Hermione tamed her frizzy hair, she looked like a completely different person.

Even when she walked past, Harry didn’t recognize her and kept asking, ”Where’s Hermione...”

Too bad he didn’t bring a camera. Capturing this moment would have been interesting.

At this time, the auditorium doors were also opened, and Professor McGonagall’s voice sounded.

”Champions, please come over here!”

Conna nervously adjusted her skirt, then arm in arm with Kael, walked forward, as the chattering crowd moved aside to let them through.

”Wait here for a moment.” Professor McGonagall placed them next to a Christmas tree by the auditorium door, letting others enter the auditorium first.

The waiting time felt a bit long, but fortunately, they were all familiar faces, so it wasn’t awkward.

Once everyone was seated in the auditorium, Professor McGonagall came over again and had the champions and their partners line up in pairs to follow her inside.

They filed in, and the people in the auditorium applauded warmly. Kael even heard a whistle. Turning his head, he saw... of course, it was Fred.

George instinctively wanted to respond but calmed down immediately after Professor McGonagall glared at him.

The auditorium had completely transformed, with walls covered in shimmering silver frost, a starry night sky overhead, and hundreds of sprigs of mistletoe and ivy hanging.

The biggest change was that the four house tables were gone, replaced by more than a hundred little tables lit with lanterns.

The staff table was the same, with five judges sitting there, looking at them with smiles.

Kael originally wanted to sit next to Chris, but hadn’t taken a few steps when he felt his hand being firmly grabbed, leaving him no choice but to follow Conna and sit beside Professor Dumbledore.

Honestly, Kael didn’t really want to sit here... not because of Professor Dumbledore, but because Snape was right behind this spot.

Everyone was chatting and laughing except for Snape, whose face was grim as if he’d discovered someone had stolen his prized potion.

And looking at his expression, Kael couldn’t guarantee Snape wouldn’t add something else to his food later.

Unfortunately, during this brief moment of thought, all other seats were already taken, leaving Kael no option but to sit here.

As it turned out, Kael’s concerns were not unfounded. Just sitting down, he felt an icy chill on his neck.

Along with the completely transformed auditorium, tonight’s feast was quite unique.

Once the champions sat down, Professor Dumbledore picked up the menu beside his plate, then clearly said to his plate, ”Pork chop!”

The pork chop immediately appeared.

This ordering service wasn’t unfamiliar to Hufflepuff students, but it was the first time it appeared in the auditorium.

But Kael wasn’t in the mood to eat; the malicious intent behind him was too evident. If you placed a Peeping Mirror on the table, it would surely spark or drill a hole through it.

Kael couldn’t help but adjust his collar, wanting to ask Professor Dumbledore if Snape had visited the kitchen before this.

Compared to the anxious Kael, everyone else seemed normal. George was sharing some interesting happenings at school with Fleur, who seemed intrigued, even initiating questions about Hogwarts’ Defence Against the Dark Arts professors.

For this mysterious position, she’d heard of it even at Beauxbatons.

George suddenly became awkwardly silent; although it was true, he wanted to slightly defend Hogwarts’ reputation, so he glossed over it with a few vague remarks.

Meanwhile, Krum was introducing Durmstrang’s situation to Hermione, but halfway through, Karkaroff interrupted him.

He seemed reluctant for others to learn about Durmstrang, worried that Krum might divulge its location.

”Igor...” Professor Dumbledore said with a smile, ”With such secrecy, people might think you’re not welcoming others to visit...”

”Oh, Albus...” Karkaroff said, ”We all want to protect our private territories, don’t we...”

”Ha...”

As he said this, Kael suddenly heard a burst of laughter behind him.

It was Professor Moody. Although he faced away from everyone, Kael was certain his Magic Eye was looking at them through the back of his head.

”Dumbledore...” he said, ”I should have asked for a pay raise knowing Hogwarts is your private domain.”

”Hogwarts never belongs to anyone; it belongs to all the students...” Dumbledore said, ”Of course, that doesn’t affect your sensible request for a raise. I will consider it.”

This interruption from Professor Moody left Karkaroff uninterested in continuing.

”I’m just joking, Professor Moody.” Karkaroff said, letting out a laugh, but his cold eyes showed no hint of humor.

Half an hour later, everything was finished.

With the Hungarian red beef on Kael’s plate hardly touched vanished, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to rise as well.

He waved his wand, and the tables disappeared, and a gigantic stage appeared in the middle of the auditorium, along with various musical instruments.

Amidst the screams, the Weird Sisters rushed onto the stage.

As the only band to have appeared on a Chocolate Frog Card, they had great popularity in the Magic Realm, even just a glimpse caused the auditorium to boil over.

And when they picked up their instruments, the champions also stood up.

The first song they played was ”Glorious Griffin,” as Kael walked into the brightly lit dance floor, he felt less tense than when facing the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.

Then he took Conna’s hand, placing his other hand on her waist.

He could clearly feel Conna’s body tense for a moment, but she soon returned to normal.

That cool feeling on his neck became more apparent, but Kael no longer cared about it.

As he recalled the moves Professor McGonagall taught him earlier, when the melody started, he led Conna to take steps slowly.

Once he really started dancing, Kael wasn’t as nervous as before; his movements became more skilled, and they slowly spun on the spot with Conna.

Strangely enough, although the three champions were dancing, and Fleur and Krum were drawing attention, most eyes remained on Kael and Conna, as if the stage was specially built for them.

”Lovely...” Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled, and he lowered his head slightly under the pretense of wiping his glasses.

Professor McGonagall looked proud.

The person impressing everyone now was taught by her... whereas Professor Flitwick and Nearly Headless Nick, were just assistants, not worthy of mention.

Of course, happiness may not be shared by everyone.

There was a snap as Snape broke the butter knife he had been holding. His eyes were locked onto the dance floor, not even noticing Sirius Black’s antics beside him.

Perhaps he found it boring, seeing Snape ignoring him, Sirius ceased his taunting. He approached Professor McGonagall and politely invited her for a dance.

Professor McGonagall happily agreed.

As the song reached its midway point, more people joined the dance floor; the champions were no longer the center of attention, yet instinctively, the space in the middle where Kael and Conna were remained open.

Soon, the song ended.

Then came the second song, much faster than before.

”It’s ’Magic Things.’” Kael said, ”Their most popular song, and they earned their place on the Chocolate Frog Card with it.”

Speaking of which, Kael let go of Conna and switched to a more cheerful dance step.

...

They danced three songs in total before finally leaving the dance floor.

Not because they were tired, but Kael had only learned these three songs, and staying any longer would only lead to awkward improvisation.

He looked at the flushed and panting Conna and asked, ”Want a drink? How about some Pumpkin Juice?”

Conna nodded.

Kael headed towards the round table with drinks and desserts, finding Ron and Harry devouring pudding.

”You guys... must have been eating desserts here all along.”

”Yes.” Harry swallowed a big mouthful of pudding and said matter-of-factly, ”We’re not required to dance, are we?”

”Lucky I’m not a champion, or else I’d have to handle the opening dance, otherwise...” He couldn’t help shivering, seemingly recalling something terrifying, quickly changing the topic, ”Try this, it’s custard fruit jam pudding. Ron and I agree it’s the best among all the desserts.”

Kael raised an eyebrow, well, clearly here for the buffet.

But he took Harry’s advice, taking an additional pudding besides Pumpkin Juice.

After all, Harry had been here through three songs’ time; his recommendations should be reliable.

...